Matthew 5: 17-32
Today, Sunday, October 29, 2017, is the eighth in a series of chapters in Russell Board's book entitled, 40 Days With Jesus.
You will not be the same after reading each of these inspiring and informative chapters. They are concise and comprehensive chapters and you will be captivated by each one.
Stand by for the eighth chapter entitled, "Law."
Jesus had his greatest conflicts with the scribes and the Pharisees. The scribes were tasked with copying the writings of Moses and the prophets by hand, a painstaking job that made them experts in the contents of Scripture. The Pharisees (literally “separated ones”) prized the Law of God above all else, and devoted themselves to studying, interpreting and obeying it. Why did these two groups, the most learned authorities in the laws of God, so often clash with Jesus?
The scribes prided themselves on their knowledge of the law, but Jesus emphasized obedience to it. The Pharisees specialized in the letter of the law, but Jesus insisted on penetrating deeper to the spirit of what was written. Both groups had come to see the law as a means of establishing their own self-righteousness, and demonstrating their moral superiority to others. Jesus found this intolerable, and therefore pulled no punches in His criticism of their arrogant smugness and hypocritical conduct.
While tax collectors, drunkards, prostitutes and other notorious “sinners” were attracted to Jesus, this was not because He preached a message of cheap grace and tolerance for their “alternative lifestyles.” On the contrary, Jesus demanded repentance and conversion, and called His followers to a high standard of ethical behavior.
Jesus was not a revolutionary, come to tear down the structures and traditions of Judaism and erect a new religion in its place. On the contrary, He came as the embodiment of all that was prefigured in Jewish religious ritual, and as the fulfillment of all that was predicted by the Jewish prophets. The self-styled experts in the law who criticized Jesus missed the mark because it was they, not He, who were out of step with what God was doing.
God did not impose the law upon His people in order to weigh them down with a lot of unnecessary rules. The law was not a burden, but a gift, bestowed out of love. In the law, God instructed his people on how life was meant to be lived. Obedience to the divine directives was the key to a prosperous, successful and abundant life, fit to obtain divine blessing.
Unfortunately, the holiness of the law was on a collision course with the sinfulness of humanity. The people could not live up to its requirements, and instead of qualifying for its blessings, they incurred the curse of disobedience. Ironically, even as the scribes and Pharisees took pride in their knowledge of the law, they stood condemned by it.
More ironically still, it was Jesus, the very One they criticized for disrespecting the law, Who alone was able to live up to the law’s demands. Jesus lived a flawless human life, fulfilling all the obligations of the law. His obedience to God was perfect and complete, His righteousness absolute and comprehensive. By the standards of the law, Jesus was faultless.
Jesus calls us to a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. In explaining what this entails, He offers an interpretation of the law that exposes the inadequacy of a superficial literalism.
The command not to commit murder is clear and straightforward. Most of us can claim to be innocent of such an atrocity. But Jesus does not let us off the hook so easily. He presses inward to focus on the motive behind the action. Hatred and contempt in the heart are what give rise to violent behavior. Even when circumstances or cowardice prevent the deed from occurring, the wicked motive still contaminates the soul with its poison, and incurs comparable guilt.
The story is similar with regard to adultery. Sexual fantasizing invariably precedes illicit conduct. It may seem harmless to indulge in such fantasies, but this is not the case. Lustful thoughts set the stage for immoral actions. Not only that, but licentious feelings toward an outsider weaken the marriage bond, and inject a dangerous and unhealthy element into innocent relationships. If a lack of opportunity and a fear of discovery are all that prevent the deed itself, then the condition of the heart is just as culpable.
Concerning divorce, Jesus again raises the bar. In God’s eyes, marriage is more than a legal arrangement that can be dissolved through due process. Marriage is an organic union, forming one flesh out of two. Its dissolution therefore rips apart a single whole, leaving both individuals wounded and torn. Divorce as practiced in our society trivializes marriage and fails to recognize its integrity, leaving a trail of shattered families, broken adults, and scarred children.
The moral law of God is set out in the precepts of Scripture, and echoed in the conscience of human beings. As Christians, we understand that salvation is the gift of God, and is not obtained through keeping the law. However, this does not mean that we forget about God’s laws and embrace the standards of the world, or no standards at all. On the contrary, we look to the laws of God to instruct us on what is right, and to show us how to live in a way that pleases Him.
The law is also there to remind us of our faults and inadequacies, for we invariably fail to live up to its standards. While definitely unpleasant, this is not a bad thing, for it drives us to Christ for forgiveness, cleansing and transformation.
Meditation: Am I satisfied with a superficial obedience to God’s law, or am I willing to let Jesus expose and change the condition of my heart?
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that Jesus kept the law perfectly, inwardly and outwardly, and He did so for me. By Your grace and Your Spirit, may His righteousness become a reality in my life.
Russell is as prolific writer and is no stranger to IPHC church members. He has written adult Sunday school lessons as well as a book on the doctrines/beliefs of the IPHC.
40 Days with Jesus is available through LifeSprings here: http://lifespringsresources.com/40-days-with-jesus-encountering-jesus-in-the-gospels
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